THis Booke of Levitious is Moses Gospell, or the Gospell vailed; and what that prince­ly Preacher, Count Anh ilt, said of the whole Scripture, (that it is nothing else but the swadling clothes of the childe Jesus,) is most true of this Ceremoniall Law, Heb. 10.1. All these Sacrifices in this Cere­moniall Law, of Beeyes, Sheep Goats, and lambs, &c. did with Iohn Baptist point out and say, Bebold the Lambe of God that takes away the sinnes of the wa [...]d; God intending by all these Ceremonially, holy Persons, holy places, holy times,Iohn 1.29. holy things, to teach us that as well the Fathers under the Law, as we under the Gospell, could be saved by no other, but that ho­ly thing which was borne of a Virgin, and called the Son of God, Col. 2.17. And all those legall pollutions and defilements by issues touches, leprosies, &c. did nothing else but shadow out that most [Page 2]horrid filth, and grand abominable pollution of sin, which e [...] no way else be washed away, but by the sprinkling of Chri [...] bloud upon our consciences, Heb. 9.13, 14, till we wash in this Jor­dan, Zach. 13.1, 2. God gave the morall Law which concerned all men, upon a mountaine, Horeb, (or as it was after upon occasion of the Bushes burning, Exod. 2. called Sinai,) to set out the stabili­ty and firmnesse of it, which should last till Christs second coming to dissolve the mountaines; but hee gave the Ceremoniall Law (which concerned the Jewes, and was (as the Greek Etymologie of the word notes, eis kairon monon, to last but for a time onely,) in a tent or flitting Tabernacle to Moses, noting the muta­bility of it, that it should last no longer then the things of the ta­bernacle, i.e. Christs first comming; who was the substance & fulfil­ling of it, as St. Ambrose well; ‘the shadow of Christ was in the Law, his image in the Gospell, his fulnesse in Heaven.’

Now in this Ceremoniall Law (which directed the Jew in the duties of the first Table of the morall Law towards God; as the Judiciall Law did, in the duties of the second Table, toward men.) There are divers kinds of Legall pollutions mentioned, one outward, by touching any uncleane creature, &c. Levis. 11. a­nother inward, by issues from within the bodies of men and wo­men, Lev. 12. A third, (and worst of all,) both inward and outwand Lev. 13. & 14. here in Text, and that is Leprosie.

In the words observe, First, the uncleannesse or defilement he [...] mentioned, for the kind of it, what it was, viz. Lepr [...]sie, the word of all legall pollutions, most loath some in it selfe, [...] to the party, most infectious to others.

Secondly, the materials appointed for the cleansing this Lep [...] and they are five, first, one bird that must be taken and killed out an earthen vessell full of fresh spring running water. Secondly, a­nother bird of the same kind as like as may be (both clean) which must not be killed. Thirdly, Cedar-wood. Fourthly, Hyssop-Fifthly, Skarlet, (or as it is, Heb. 9.19. Skarlet wool.

Thirdly, the preparation of these for, and application of these to the Leper, viz. First the Priest must take the live bird, Cedar, Skarlet, and Hyssop in his hand, and dip them all in the bloud of the slaine bird mingled with the water in the earthen vessell. Se­condly, he must besprinkle the Leper that is to be cleansed, seven [Page 3]times (some conceive the Cedar wood to be the handle, the hyssop [...]e sprinkler, and Skarlet the tye of them together, with which [...]e Priest sprinkled the water and bloud upon the Leper?) and let [...]elive-bird loose into the field.

Fourthly, the demeanor and carriage of the party himself thus cleansed; viz. he must shave off his haire, wash his flesh and his cloathes, and bring his trespasse Offering, &c. Now if any of you that hears and reads this Text, should whisper his neighbour in the eare, and say as sometimes Phillip did to the Ethiopian Eu­nuch, Act. 8.30. Understandest thou what thou readest? Perhaps he would returne you that answer which the Eunuch did to Phil­lip, ver. 31. How can I except some man should guide me. Let me intreate you therefore who are the stronger sheep of Christs flock, to stay a while, till I for the use of the weaker flocke unroll this stone, and drive the tender lambs softly; and that I may be a pil­lar of fire (as was said of Basil,) to lead you in this Wildernesse,Gen. 33.13.14. a star to leade you to Christ in the Text; the blessing of him that appeared in the Bush, who onely was found worthy to open the Seales, prosper our journey amongst you this day. And first of the first, the pollution or defilement of Leprosie; a disease (as I said) of all others most filthy. The Hebrews call it by a name that signifies a fretting piercing sore, The Syriack and the Greek,Rev. 5.5. Scabbednesse, Scurfe or Scales: The Caldee, shutting out, or Se­clusion: All shewing that it was a disease in it selfe most scurvy and loathsome; to the party most painfull and piercing, to others most infectious, so that the Lepers were secluded and shut out, both from the congregation of God, and the society and camp of men during their Leprosie: yea, though Kings, as Azariah (or Ʋzziah,) 2 Chron. 26.21. 2 Kin. 15.5. though great persons as Mi­riam, Num. 12.14 Lepers were therefore without the City alone by themselves, 2 King. 7.3. Mat. 8.1. Luke 17.11. so God commanded, Num. 5.2, 3. that they might not desile the Camp or Church, God doth hereby set out, and by these sensible objects would lead the Jew as by the nose, and would have both Jewes and Gentiles hereby to discerne and loath, that exceeding filth and loath som­nesse of sin: as if he had said, You are very sensible, and afraid of exceeding pained, with and weary of the disease and defilemen, of Leprosie; Oh learn to hate and abhor sin which is typed heret [Page 4]by, and is far more loathsome, as the substance goes beyond the shadow, the body, the picture. Now that God did intend hereby to set out the silth of sin, appeares, First, because that this disease was more common in the Land of Canaan, (to which people these Types and Ceremonies were given) then in any other part of the world, nay the Jewes say, that some kinds of it were miraculous, and among no people but them, as Leprosie in walls, and gar­ments, &c. And as many thinke most raging and common in Christs time, that so Christ so commonly curing this disease, the Jewes might learne that this was the Messiab, Mat. 8.3, 4, 16, 17, & 11.3, 4, 5. Mark 1.41, 42. typed out in all their Leviticall sha­dowes, that came into the world to cleanse them from, and take away the Leprosie and filth of sin. Secoudly, God sends them not to the bodily Physitian, to cure their disease, but to the Priest, a type of Our High Priest Jesus Christ. Thirdly, the materialls ap­pointed for the cleansing of the Leper, have no intrinsicall ver­tue, or medicinable quality to cure the body, but (as we shall even now heare) typifie out Christ and his benefits, that takes away the sin of the soule. Fourthly, the Apostle imimates this to be the true meaning, Heb. 9.13, 14, 19, 22. and Chap. 12.24. & Chap. 10.1, 4, 14. when God would set out the basenesse of wicked men, he cals them Wolves, Lions, Bears, Foxes, Spiders, Cocatrises, Smoak, Dung, Isa. 11 6, 7, 8. & 59.5, 6 Cant. 2.15. Chaffe, Psal. 1.4. 1 Kin. 14.10. When God sets out the pretiousnesse of his people, he cals them, Love, Dove, Jewels, &c. Cant. 2. Mat. 3, &c. So when he would set cut the exceeding filth of sin, hee shadowes it out by Leprosie, Uncle annesse, &c.

Secondly, For the five materials appointed for the cleansing; viz. two Birds, Scarlet, Cedar, and Hyssop; some have thought the two Birds to have beene sparrowes, and so reade the words; others (as far as I now remember, having now neither Books nor papers to consult with) think they were no tame or house-birds, because one of them must flie away into the field, so as in likeli­hood to returne no more, (as the scape-goat also) the more fitly to resemble Christ who carries away our sins, not return to destroy us: I conceive then, the two Birds did typisie Jesus Christ, two natures, the dying Bird set out his humanity, according to which, he died, shed his bloud, and lay in the grave: The live-bird, set out his [Page 5]Divinity, by the power whereof he rose againe, flew away to hea­ven and carried away our sins; thus Peter expounds it, 1 Pet. 3.18. being put to death in the fiesh, but quickned by the Spirit; thus Paul, 2 Cor. 13.4. He was crucified through weaknesse, yet he lives by the power of God, so Rom. 4.25. And because no one Bird could both die and live againe, therefore here are two birds men­tioned (as two Goats, Lev. 16.7, 10. to shadow out, both Christs shedding of his bloud for the remission of our sins, Heb. 9.22. and his bearing away our griefes, and carrying our sorrowes, Isa. 53.4. Mat. 8.17. Now as these must be two little Birds both of a kind, so must they be both clean, ver. 4. So was Christ as God, and as man, every way holy and unspotted. That Christ was God, see the testimony of Scripture, Phil. 2.6. 1 Ioha 3.7. the testimony of the Devill, Mark 1.24. Christs very enemies, Mat. 27.54. Christs very workes, raising dead, curing all diseases, turning water into wine; multiplying loaves, all kindes of miracles; and (like the live-bird in my Text,) his raising himself from the dead, and sly­ing away to heaven. That Christ was man also, witnesse his Birth, Life, and (like the dying bird in my Text) his death and shedding his bloud. The other three materialls, viz. Cedar, Scar­let, and Hyssop, (as I conceive) set out the severall graces and vertues in this pretious Redeemer. The Cedar that rots not (yea the pitch that runs out (as naturalists affirme) keepes dead bodies from rotting) shewes Christs innocency, free from all corruption; The red Scarlet of a perfect dye, notes Christs fervent love to his Church. The savory Hyssop sets out Christs savory obedience, pleasing to the Father. Now Christs innocency is proclaimed, not only by God, by Prophets, Apostles, his own actions; but e­ven by the Devill, by Pilete and his Wife, and Iudas, see Marke 1.24 Mat. 27.4, 19,—24, Mat. 3.17 Luke 2. &c. Behold the uncor­rupted Cedar.

Christs fervent love to his Church appeares, in that for his peo­ples sake, he being God became man (which is infinite more then for great Nebu [...]hadnezzar to become a beast) nay, not onely man, but poore man; nay, scorned and abused by the worst and basest of men, yea, by Devills who had power to tempe, yea, to carry his body (as I may say) from pou to pillar; yea, that hee should doe all this and shed his bloud (like a Scarlet threed) for poore [Page]worthlesse creatures dust and ashes, yea, sinfull dust, yea stranger (a little courtesie to a stranger is much) Ephes. 2.12. Yea, enemies, (now as Saul said, a man would scarce spare his enemy; how few keep, how few dye for his enemie? yea, dead enemies, Ephes. 2.1, 5. especially considering that he knew how ill wee deserved this, how little many would profit by it, how much contemne, how ill requite it; adde to all this how voluntary and free, (no way com­pelled) all this was, John 10.17, 18. So as though hee knew hee should die at Jerusalem, yet hee would goe thither; though hee knew and foretold that Judas would betray him, yet hee meetes him; when Peter advised him to save himselfe, he rebukes Peter: and when they asked him if he was the Christ, he denyed not, but witnested a good confession; was there ever love like this love? who heares this, but will breake out and say; his mercy, his mer­cy endures for ever; behold his free scarlet love. Againe Christs savoury obedience hee expressed, in that hee observed the whole Law, fulfilled all righteousnesse, Mat. 3.15. Kept the Ceremoni­all Law, was circumcised the eight day, and offered for his offer­ing according to the Ceremoniall Law. Hee kept the Judiciall Law, in being subject and obedient to their Magistrates Lawes, Kept the Morall Law every point of it, in both Tables, for the Ob­ject: with his whole man, heart, tongue, and life, for the Subject: and all his life, for continuance: yea, denyed himselfe, and per­formed the most difficult points, Behold Christs savoury Obedi­ence! Psal 51.7, 9.

The third part is the preparation of these Materials for, and ap­plication of these to the Leper, The dying bird, noting Christs humanity, must be killed over an earthen vessell full of running water, so that the bloud of the slaine bird must fall into, and be mingled with the water in the vessell: This water and bloud ty­pified that which Saint John expresseth to have beene fulfilled, when water and bloud came out of Christs side, John 19.34. No­ting our justification by his bloud, our sanctification by the water, 1 John 5.6. It must be running water from a fountaine, not pond or puddle water that dries up in summer, but a fountaine of mer­cy in Christ that flows continually for the Churchesuse, Zac. 13.1. Heb. 9.14. The earthen vessels are the Ministers of the Gospell (so Saint Paul expounds it, 2 Cor. 4.7.) though poore men like your [Page]selves, yet wee hold out to you most pretious treasure, even the [...]irs of Christ for the justification and Sanctification of his church: Its Gods way that Christ should be revealed to us by these earthen vessells, and not by Angels. God sent not the An­gell to teach the Eunuch, but the Angell was sent to the earthen [...]ssell, Philip, that he might hold out the water and bloud to the [...]thiopian, Act. 8.26, 35. If a Devill should come with a fire-brand [...]t of hel [...], it would not doe us so much good, as the teaching by earthen vessels. Dives in his humane invention thought the for­mer way the better, Luke 16.27, 30. that if one come from Heaven they would repent, but God that appoints the end, and gives the blessing, must onely appoint the meanes, Luke 16.29, 31. which is not to speak to us by himselfe, Deut. 5.25.—28. nor Angell, nor Divell, but to hold out Christ with all his benefits to us, in, and by earthen vessels: take heed how you despise on Ministery, our Prophesying, 1 Thes. 5.19, 20. because though we are poore Vessels, yet we hold out Pretious treasure; look not upon our out-side on­ly as they on Christ, Is not this the Carpenter? are not his kin [...]ed here with us, Marke 6.2, 3. for he that despiseth our Ministery, de­spiseth not man but the Ordinance of God, Thes. 4.8. and 5.13. for in so doing, you contemn this pretions water, and bloud, and put away eternall life, Act. 13.46.

The living Bird must be dipt in the bloud of the dead Bird, ere the Leper be sprinkled; noting to us, that hee that must save us from sin, must not onely bee God, nor onely man, but both joyned together, God and Man, for our redemption, 1 Tim. 2.5. Man to suffer death (for God could not dye) God to conquer death, (for mere man could not.) Man; because man had sinned God; because God was offended, &c. yet as the corner-stone, hee might reconcile together in one both God and Man, Phil 2.6, 7, 8. Ephes. 2.16.

Yet all this will not do the Leper any good except it be sprink­led upon, applyed to him (so v. 7 the Priest must besprinkle the Le­per seven times,) shadowing hereby, b [...]th to Jew and Gentile, that Christs comming from Heaven, shedding his bloud, sing againe, and flying away to Heaven will not clense any soule not [...]u [...]e any Leper (though in it self a sufficient Plaister) except we be sprinkled with it, except it be applyed to us.

Fourthly, but when a poor leprous sinner is once cleansed con­verted, [Page]called, justified, &c. when he is thus besprinkled with Christs merits, may hee now live as he list? no, see the fourth part of the Text, viz. the cleansed Lepers conversation; he must shave off his experements, all his hair, of head, beard, &c. wash his flesh and cloths, offer sacrifice, &c. v. 8, 9, 10. he must still be pumping out corruption, fighting daily, 1 Tim. 1.19. mortifie the deeds of the flesh, Rom. 8.13. be daily cleansing himself from all pollution both, of flesh and spirit, 2 Cor. 7.1. and shave off that supersiuity of naugh­tinesse, and wash away that filthinesse that stickes close to the best, James 1.21. If any poor captive soul marry with the God of Israel, Jesus Christ, there must be pairing of nails, and shaving of haire; as the captive Maid did, that married a man of Israel, Deut. 21.12. and be daily sacrificing and sowing to the spirit, G [...]ll. 6.7.

Having now somewhat opened these four precious streams, that water this garden of God, Gen. 2.10. let me, like a man that hath run up a great hill, and thereby himself out of breath, look down a little upon the Text, and draw from every part one observation, like so many buckets full of these cleer streams, to water the lambs of Christ.

Obser. 1. And first from the pollution or defilements, observe; that sinne is a most filthy loathsome evill: the ceremoniall type or shadow is gone, but the substance or thing signified therby (viz. the filthinesse of sinne) that still concernes both Jew and Gentile; the Jewish shell is broke, but the kernall hath a lasting morality: yet as all the types of Christ came far short of Christ the Antitype, so all these pollutions come far short of the filth of sinne, which they signified.

Those sinnes which men count but jests or toyes, how basely doth the Scripture style them? i. e. Covetousnesse which men call good husbandry, the Scripture calls filthy lucre, Tit. 1.7. wanton talk which men call mirth and je [...]ing, the Scripture calls filthy communication, Coll. 3.8. filthinesse and foolish talking, Ephes. 5.4. yea the filthinesse of the Daughter of Sion, Isa 4.4. abomination, Lev. 18.22. pollutions of the world, 2 Pet. 2 22.

See what the Scripture compares it to; to the vomit of dogs, to wallowing in the mire, &c. 2 Pet. 2.22. nay, sinne is far worse then all mire, and dirt; for 1 that can but defile the body, the cask, the shall; but sinne defiles the spirituall, invisible, and immortall pre­tious [Page 4]soul which is a spirit. 2. All the dirt in the world cannot [...]ake a man one jot more ugly or loathsome in Gods eyes. 3. It cannot shut a man out of heaven, or shut him in the everlasting [...]rboiles within the bars of Hell, Job. 17.16. but sinne can doe all this: see how God esteemes of it? surely as an abominable thing, Psal. 14.1. hates it perfectly, Psal. 5.5. and 45.7. Revel. 2.6. See what good men (so far as they are renewed) think of it. Surely its a very death to them, Rom. 7.24. who shall deliver me from the body of this death, Ephes. 2.12. 1 Tim. 5.6. 1 John 3.14. they esteeme of it as darknesse, Rom. 13.12. Eph. 5.11. 1 Thes. 5.4. much worse then that ninth plague of Egypt, Exod 10.21; 22. there through the want of Sun, Moon, and Star-light from above, and fire and candle-light from below, Wisd. 17.5, 17. both naturall & artificiall, and through the condensating of the foggy Aire, it was so darke, that no man had any mind to rise from his seat (not that the Aire was so thick they coald not rise, Exod. 10.23. for then would it have hindred their breathing) for three dayes together; which caused Famine, and being terrified with their owne consciences, Wisd. 17.14, 15. and evill spirits vexing them that while, Psal. 78. v. 49. it was indeed a very sore plague; oh but sinue is worse, chaining the soule to the Divell, starving and famishing it, and that not for three dayes, but for many yeeres, yea oft-times to all eternity, where not onely conscience and evill spirits vexe, but rend and tear for ever.

Sinne is worse then the most stinging crosses, they are of Gods making and [...]ending, Amos 3.6. they are onely opposite to my par­ticular good, bonummei; but sinne is opposite to that universall good bonum Dei; sinne is worse then the Divell, for it caused him to be so ill as he is; that which differenceth the lowest Divell from the highest Angell is sinne, take that away, and hee is a glorious Angell again; yet all the water at Noahs floud, and all the fire at the day of judgement cannot do it. Sinne is worse then Hell, for Hell is of Gods making, as a prison to the contemners, of his great mercy, and his dear Son; Sinne, not so.

Reas. 1. And no wonder, for 1. sinne comes from a filthy Foun­tain, that stinking Sodome of mans deceitfull heart, Mat. 15. Jam. 15.1. In the Angels, and Adam (at the first) there was no sinne, they were justified by inherent righteousnesse, but now, &c.

Reas. 2. It hath a filthy father and furtherer, the Divell, 1 John [...] 8. John 8.44.

Reas. 3. It leades to a filthy end, and company Divells in Hell.

Reas. 4. It hath filthy effects, it defiled heavenly Angels, and holy Adam; of great Kings it made poor base slaves, much worse then for the highest Nebuchadnezzar, to become a beast, it defile [...] men and women, many by Creation, and (to look upon) most pretty, fine, sweet, amiable, and comely men and women, yet of this filthinesse of sinne become most ugly and loathsome creatures, yea such as the Scriptures calls vipers, Mat. 3.7. Scorpions, Ezek. 2.6. Spiders and Cocatries, Isa 59.5. Wolves, Beares, Lyons, Leo­pards, Isa 11. Thornes, Briars, Brambles, Thistles, Isa 10.17, Ezek. 2.6. Judg. 9.14. Mat. 7.6. yea Divels, John 6.70. what a wofull thing would it be if any of you had a child, having a head like a Bear [...], feet like a dog, &c. oh its far better to be a Beast, then to bee like a Beast by living in beastly filthy sinnes: when a Beast dyes it ends, but when a wicked man dyes, he begins his everlasting misery.

Luther in his notes on the fourth Commandement, tells a re­markeable Story, viz. ‘that two great Cardinalls riding toge­ther, to the Counsell of Constance;’ in their Journey, they espye [...] Shepheard in the fields, exceedingly mourning; one of them much pittying him, [...]ides to him, askes him why he wept? the Shepheard ‘being much urged tells him, I looking upon this Toad, conside­red that I had never plaised God as I ought, for making [...] such an excellent creature as man, reasonable and comely, and not such a deformed Toad as this; seeing both were made of th [...] dust:’ how glad and thankfull was this poore shepheard, th [...] God made him a man and not a [...]oade (the head and not the tay of the creation) and sure so it is a very great mercy, wee doe no­blesse God enough for these common favours: when Pharoah th [...] greatest King then alive, that wee reade of) had been seven day [...] without water, and three dayes without light (the want of which were the first and ninth of Egypts great plagues, and we reade n [...] expresly that any other of the tenne plagues lasted but one day. [...] Pharoah was then able to prize common mercies at a high ra [...] but yet it is much better for one to have beene a Toade (or any [...] ­ther base creature) then to bee a man with an eternall and reaso­nable [Page]soule, if he live and dye in his sins, voyd of grace. Should [...] a man going up and downe the streete, having frogs or ser­ [...]ts in his belly, it would be thought a wofull and lamentable [...]: oh how much more to be full of unrighteousnesse and noy­someraigning lusts, Rom. 1.29. & 3.13,—19, it is fin alone that de­files man, and every part of man? Rom. 3.13,—19. Mat. 15.19, 20. defiles his chiefe part, his heart, Jer. 17.9. his words, Mat. 15.18. his actions, Pro. 15.8, 9. both sacred, Pro. 21.27. Psal. 109.7. Heb. 4. 1 Cor. 11.27, 29. his prayer, sacrifice, hearing, Isa. 1.16. and his ci­vill actions, Pro. 21.4. the very plowing of the wicked, &c. yea, all, Tit. 1.15. as all that the Leper sato on, spit on, touched, &c. was de­filed, Lev. 16.16. Hag. 2.13. yea, he that touched a Leper, &c. So sin defiles the very land, and place where it raignes, as Paradise, So­dome, &c. Psol. 107.34.

But I forget too much your important affaires, and pressing ne­cessities this day, give me leave to coast upon an Use or two, and I will post to the next.

Ʋse 1 This discovers themiserable estate of every one of us by nature, King and Subject, Lord and Lady, Magistrate, Minister, &c. we are all born Lepers, like the poore helplesse infant, polluted in its bloud, Ezek. 16.6. there is no better amongst us. Men talke much (but its only a talke) of their good nature, there was never any such thing since the fall of Adam; and not only an arme or foot defiled, or here or there a spot, but from the head to the foot every part is full of this Leprosie, the whole man is naturally desiled: by the fall we lost Gods image, made backward to all good, prone to all ill, liable to condemnation, Rom. 5.12, 16, 18.

Ʋse 2 This acquaints us nextly, of that great need that every one hath to be converted, to help us against the leprosie of our first birth; grace is obtained by, and heaven entailed to, (not our first, but) second birth. This regenerating work is, first the greatest, second­ly, needfullest, thirdly, happiest change in the world. First, grea­test, to turne water into wine, was a great worke, John 2. (yet in time, water would have been wine, by the help of the vine, in the ordinary course of Providence) had wee a childe that wanted a hand, a leg, an eye, or had some limme extremely mishapen and disfigured, you would say to one that should help you, you were bound to be his servant for over, and proclaim it for a great work; [Page]Oh but to raise Lazarus from his foure dayes death, was yet much greater; but yet to turne a Lion into a Kid, a Wolfe into a Lamb, Isa. 11. is the greatest worke of all. When Jacob gave to Benjamin his coat of Armes, Gen. 49.27. he tells him that he should ravine as a Wolfe, &c. now if ever there was Wolfe of the tribe of Benjamin, it was Saul, when others did mischiefe against the Saints, he con­sented to it, Act. 7.58. & 8.1. Nay, himselfe was bloudy and cruell minded against any that called upon Jesus Christ, or went that way, Act. 26.11. Yea, thirdly, he sought for commission and power to execute his mischiefe like a Catch-poll, Act. 9.1. Fourthly, hee tooke much paines, rid a journey, (and got others with him) from Jerusalem in the tribe of Benjamin to Damascus in Syria. Act. 9.2. & 22.5. Fifthly, when hee caught them, hee beat them cruelly, Act. 26.10. & 22.19. Sixthly, many he killed, Act. 22.4. and many he dragged and haled to prison, Act. 26.10. Seventhly, some he pu­nished, and some he banished, made them flye to strange Coun­tries, Act. 8.4. & 26.11. some way or other made havock of them, Act. 8 3. And eightly, which was worst of all, not content to plun­der their estates, mischieve their bodies, but (with that monster of Millai [...]e) endeavoured to undoe their soules, by making them blaspheme the Name of Jesus Christ, Act. 26.11. every way as much as in him lay, assayed to overthrow the Church of Christ, Act. 8.3. Gal. 1.13. And yet behold this raging and ravening Wolfe of Ben­jamin, become a Lambe, meeke and humble, Act. 9.4 5, 6. changed, in name; secondly, in nature; thirdly, condition or estate; fourthly, in practise, oh what a great change! Christ puts this receiving of the Gospell among his great miracles, Mat. 11.5.

Secondly, a needfull change; we heare people cry daily in the streets, Alas, great things lie at stake, Ireland is gasping, England is on the knee, and other Churches and Kingdomes much endange­red; Oh but till this change be wrought on thy soule, there lyes more at stake every night thou goest to bed, or morning thou up­risest, then 100. Englands, Irelands, &c. are worth, even that im­mortall precious soule of thine. I heare men say sometimes, and rejoyce, oh such a Towne, or such a Castle was taken with the losse onely of ten, or twenty, or [...]ve and twenty men: Alas, (then thinke I) these ten or twenty men, had ten or twenty soules, and as soone as ever the poore vessell is crackt, the poore shell, broke, [Page 13]the soule flies out to eternity; and if leprous soules not changed, not converted, undone eternally: our heavenly Father knowes that we need meat, drinke, &c. but much more need wee to have our leprous soules cleansed, because out eternall weale or woe de­pends theron.

Thirdly, happiest change; for now that day, is salvation come to thy house. First, thou mayest have comfort in every condition here, health, sicknesse, prosperity, advernty, &c. having interest in Christs benefits, priviledges, promises, intercession, &c. Secondly, freed from damnation, Rom. 8.1. and right to eternall life here­after, John 3.36.

Nor will it serve to have a new tongue onely, as Jehu to talke well: or a new hand, as Herod, to reforme well in many things; or a new outside, as five foolish Virgins, to carry well in many things (was there ever any creature borne, having only a tongue, onely a hand, or outside; such would be a wofull birth) but see­ing we are leprous from top to toe, we must become new creatures, sanctified throughout, 2 Cor. 5.17. 1 Thes. 5.23. 2 Cor. 7.1. but I know to whom I speake, and therefore hasten.

Vse 3. Informes us, why it is so necessary to avoid euill compa­ny, why the Scripture so often beats on it in both the Testaments, Prov. 4.14, 15, &c. Psal. 6.8. & 119.115. 2 Tim. 3.5. Ephes. 5.11. &c. Alas, because wicked men are Lepers, infectious, have the plague sore upon them (Lord have mercy upon us) 1 King. 8.38. 2 Chron. 6.29. and by reason of this leprosie raigning in them, they are loathsome to God, Zach. 11.8. loathsome to good men, Psal. 15.4. loathsome to all men, Lam. 1.18. yea, to all creatures, Rom. 8.21. and if ever God open their eyes will be loathsome to themselves, Job 42.6. Ezek. 36.31. If the plague rage in any Towne, you say to your children, families, &c. Oh looke to your selves, for the Lords sake come not there, take such and such antidotes; oh so saith Pe­ter, as soone as ever he had won those three thousand, he present­ly prescribes to those new converts, Act. 2.40. save your selves from this untoward generation: Lepers were shut out of the City, camp, and congregation, lest others should be infected by them, and were to give warning unto others, Lev. 13.46. 2 Chron. 26.11. 1 King. 15.6. & 7.3. Numb. 12. Matth. 8.2, &c. to cry uncleane, un­cleane, Lev. 13.45.

Use 4. It next shewes us, that when Gods Ministers preach Gods judgments, and threatnings, speake plain and home; its not (as people conceive) any ill will or malice they bear to them, Rev. 11.10. nor any losse they wish them, alas they wish no more losse then to part with their Leprofie, their plague soar; do you account par­ting with a Disease, a wound, cold water out of your shooes, a losse? and do you hate us, 1 King, 22.8. and account us your Fo [...]s for this, Gall. 4.16.

Use 5. Let every Evangelicall Aaron then know what is one great part of our Office, even to stand betwixt the living and the dead, to distinguish betwixt the pretious and the vile: one Office of the Priest was, to discover the Leprosie, and by marks and signes (such as God laid down to him) to shew who were clean, and who were unclean: there is as much difference 'twixt wicked and god­ly, as twixt blind and seeing, Leper and sound, dead and living, but seeing self-conceit in the understanding, self-will in the will, self-love in the affections, like Noahs three Sons have so planted and overspread the world, and the heart of man is so deceitfull, Jer. 17.9. and many think that they be in the middlest of Samaria when they be in Dothan, 2 King. 6, pure onely in their owne eyes, Prov. 30.12. it concernes the watch-men to look carefully into the word, what markes God hath laid down there, that they may pro­nounce of the Leprofie accordingly, Lev. 13. look to that sure word of prophesie, that wee may in part doe that now, which our Master Christ when he comes with his fanne in his hand, Luke 3. will doe fully another day: and let the Church take care that such as are scandalous sinners may be removed for their Leprosie, out of the Tabernacles and Congregation, Jer. 15.19. especially such as glo­ry in their sinne, alas they glory in their Leprosie, in their Scabs, and scurvinesse, their Oaths, Drunkennesse, &c.

Use 6. Lastly, let, oh let me (before I descend this Mount) pre­vaile with some poor (hitherto bespotted) soul, to bee desirous, and use Gods meanes to bee rid and cleansed from his leprosie: (one would think the request reasonable) but how have those Circeas cups befooled many?

Quest. What should I doe?

Answ. First, as the Leper did, hee felt the pain and loath some­nesse of his disease, was very sensible of it.

Secondly, he did highly prize those that were sound and clean.

Thirdly, he freely confessed his pollution, Lev. 13.45.

Fourthly, he rent his garments, and covered his lip, (signes of his forrow.)

Fifthly he cryed out for help, Mat. 8.2. Luke 5.12.

Sixthly, do as Noamau did, 1. he hearkned to good and godly advise, though from a poore servant captive maid, 2 King 5.1.2. Was at pains, took a long journey. 3. Was content to be at any cost, 2 King. 5.23. 4. Content to use means prescribed to wash in the River. v. 14. go thou and do likewise, wash in the Ocean of Gods mercy, in the Fountain of Christs merits in the tears of true Repentance; but my hast is legible to you, spare me a little pati­ence for the second point, of which never Angell can say enough: and that is from the means or the five materials appointed for the Lepers cleansing, being the second part, observe that.

Obser. 2. The only way to cleanse a sinner from the wofull Le­prosie of Sinne, is the merits and satisfaction of Christ, God and Man; That the two birds, the Cedar, Scarlet, and Flyssop, did typifie out Christs two natures in one person, and his merits, we have formerly cleared, and your businesse and my glasse forbids me, or to repeat, or enlarge: as there are three persons in one na­ture, viz. the divine, so there are two natures in one person, viz. the second person in the Trinity, like the living and the dying birds, and the Scarlet, Cedar, and Hyssop, of his fervent love, perfect ho­linesse, and savory obedience, are fully expressed in his life, death, and intercession; whereby Christ satisfied Gods justice, for the ill we had deserved; fulfilled the whole Law, to obtain the good we had lost; intercedes in heaven still, to apply all this unto us, to pro­vide mansions for us, &c.

This was typisied by all those holy persons, holy places, holy times, holy things in old Testament. Isaac. was the promised Seed in whom all the Nations of the world should be blessed, herein typifying Christ; so did Joseph, who was sent before to save his brethren Joshua brought Israell to the promised Land, so Christ, in the first Adam mankind fell, and not in their individuall, so in the second Adam, do they rise again, Rom. 5. Holy places, no Sacri­fice accepted, but at Temple or Tabemacle, nor any duty but in [Page 16]Christ. Again, in the seaventh yeere of release, and yeer of Jubllee, were servants freed, debts released, lands restored; so ours only in & by Christ. Holy Ordinances; he is the true pascall Lambe, the on­ly propritiatory sacrifice, the onely Jacobs staffe to leane on, and Jacobs ladder to ascend to heaven by, the true Brazen Serpent, John 3.14, &c.

Reas. 1. And no wonder, none else could, none else would, who or what else could satisfie the justice, or pacifie the wrath of an in­finite God:

Reas. 2. What Corner-stone could else reconcile and joyn to­gether God and Man?

Reas. 3. What hyssop or niter else could wash away the spots of the soul, and satisfie all the gaspes and chinkes of mans all-de­siring heart? Or if, who would have been at that cost and pains to do it, but Christ alone; but the thing is so cleere, and the time so short, I need not, I may not here inlarge; take God upon his word for it, Act, 4.12. Mat. 1.21. Act. 10.43 Isa 53.4, 5. &c.

But what if? what shall's make of all this, and that but briefly, in a word or two.

Ʋse 1. Oh bloody Antichrist! that to warme his own Kitchin, burne mens soules, by selling supposed merits of faigned Saints, pickes at once both mens purses, and consciences; and by teach­ing men to rest on their own merits, deprives them of Christs; tel­ling us, we can as truly and properly merit heaven as hell. So Mal­donat; that we can condignly, not onely by reason of Gods Co­venant, but by and of the work it self merit eternall life, so Bellar­mine. Indeed selling of soules is one great part of his trade, Rev. 18.13. and no wonder if he sell his own to boot: Cornelius de lapide, a late learned Jesuit and great Commentator, in his Commentary on the Numbers, saith; That his holy Father the Pope, Pius Quintus, was wont to say in his hearing, When first I entred in to holy Orders, I conceived some possibility of my soules salvation; but being once a Cardinall I did much doubt it; and now being a Pope I utterly despaire; these are the words of a Jesuit, and he saith, that the next follow­ing Pope did often say as much of himselfe; and no wonder. Wee often read in Scripture of three Superstitious Altars. 1. At Damascus where they worshipped false gods, 2 King. 10.10. 2. At Bethell, where [Page 17] [...]ey worshipped the true God in a wrong manner, 2 King. 23.15. the 3. at Athens, where worshipped neither, Act. 17.23. or both to­gether, as an ancient King of the East-Saxons in this Nation, af­ter he was baprized, had yet in his Church one Altar for Christ, another for the Divell; so doe these shavelings joyn together for Christs merits, Saints merits, our merits altogether, and so rob Christ of his honour and right, dearly bought, as that Tyrant, moriua quinetiam, &c.

See what the Apostle saith, Rom. 11.6. if it be af grace, it is no more of workes, else were grace no more grace. And we all cry with Martyr Lambert, none but Christ, none but Christ.

Ʋse 2. Did Christ being God take our humane nature (both Birds were joyned together.) Let us men labour to partake of the Divine Nature, 2 Pet. 1.4. divine graces, divine communicable pro­perties, priviledges, &c.

Vse 3. Did Christ deny himself, leave father and mother, and heaven, and glory for us: let us poor creatures (when God calls) leave father, mother (as St. Hierome somewhere) riches and plea­sures, to serve and follow him.

Ʋse 4. Did Christ shed his blood to free us from sinne; let us ra­ther suffer our blood to be shed, then wilfully provoke him by wal­lowing in our sinnes; say not as that great (but wicked) noble man, being asked whether hee liked better the pleasures of the wicked, or the piety of the godly, said cum illis mallem vivere cum istis mori; I would rather live with the former, rather dye with the latter.

Ʋse 5. Blesse God, yea let all within us blesse God, that hath provided so precious and costly a remedy, to cleanse us from our Leprosie: alas, what would all the riches and glory in the world do us good while we were all full of Leprosie? 2 Kings 5.1. what would Vzziah, Naaman, Miriam, have given to bee cured of bodily Leprosie? how much more should wee bee thankfull for curing Soules Leprosie: especially,

First, if you consider, 1. the greatnesse of the gift, God sent his Son, his only Son, his dearly beloved Son. Cyprian tells a story of one having three Sonnes, one must needs be banished: the eldest was his first born and Heire, he could not spare him; the youngest [Page 18]was the mothers darling, young and tender; not could hee [...] him; well then, the middlemost must goe; but that was the [...] expresse image and picture of the father, and therefore her world rather dye then so part with any. But God sent his Son into a sin­full naughty world, though he was the very Image of his Father, these two clean Birds, to cleanse us: the true mother (though none of the best) was loath to part with her child to be divided, 1 King. 3.26. but God for our sakes parted with his Son to be crucified.

Secondly, the freenesse of the gift; by us neither desired, nor deserved, Eph. 1.5. Rom. 5.8, 10. He loued us, because he loved us, Deut. 7.7, 8. none other eye pittyed us, Ezek. 16.5.

Thirdly, the great cost it was to Christ, the great good to us; in Christ, there was great vailing, of his glory, that the infinits God should become a poor Carpenters Son, verbune infans, Phil. 2. 6, 7. 2. Vailing of his holinesse, that he should be called a Wine­bibber, Divell, &c. and be in the similitude of sinfull flesh, 1 Pet. 1.19. 3. Vailing of his happinesse, hee deserved the first moment of his incarnation to have been in glory; but behold, from whence he came, from his Father, Heaven, Glory. 2. Whither hee came among wicked men (or rather feinds.) 3. How used of all per­sons, Jewes and Gentiles: nay, because the Jewes by their Law could not give above forty stripes, therefore did they deliver him to the Gentiles, who lashed him so long, that it was more like plowing then whipping; The Plowers plowed upon my backe, &c. Psal. 129.3. againe, in every part, from head to feet, in all his time from the cradle to the crosse, &c.

Again, consider what good this is to us; 1. hereby our nature is dignified, being in Christs person so highly advanced. All the Jew [...] rejoyced, because Ester one of their lineage was advanced; as a silver Ring, by having a precious pearle in it; as a man may take possession of 1000 1. land a yeer, by one clod of the same earth [...] so hath Christ taken possession of heaven for us in our nature; a [...] when King. James was made free of the Company of Cloth work [...], Prince Henry of the Marchant Taylors, they dignified the Compa­nies. So here, 2. Sanctifies our nature, as a cleere streame running through a filthy puddle.

And seeing I have begun to speak, lend me so much liberty [...] [Page]patience (Right Honourable, and beloved) while I apply this de­strine in a word or two to your selves.

Ʋse 6. Let this hearten and encourage all souldiers, that stand up for the Truth of Religion, the Law of the Land, the true good of his Sacred Majesty and Kingdomes, the flourishing of Christs Church, to see what a Generall and Captain they fight under; one that can from their sinnes cleanse them from pollution of spi­rit prosper them now; and if a bullet or sword come, enshrine their soules in Christs armes, give them full pay, knight and crown them in heaven: every souldier hath a care when hee goes to battell to take his musket, powder, bullet, his armes, &c. with him; by no means will he leave these behind; be sure you take this Generall Jesus Christ with you, and Truth and Righteousnesse to be your Captains, 2 Tim. 2.3. This was Joshua's main care, Josh. 5.13. 1. The calling of a souldier is very ancient, very honourable; what was it that the four great Monarchies of the world most gloried in, especially the Grecians and Romanes, but in their valiant soul­diers; whence have most of our Titles of honour risen, but from Military employments, as Emperours, Dukes, Earles, Knights, E­squires, &c. 2. It is also a lawful calling in it self, if rightly manag­ed, its an Art that God teacheth, Psal. 18.34. and 144.1. who never taught any unlawfull one, that God commanded, Numb. 31.2. commended; &c. Heb. 11.33, 34. yea sometime war with men of the same Kingdome, and that professe the same Religion may be law­full, thus twixt Israelites and Benjunites, by Gods own advice, Ezek. 5.16, 17. & 6.11. Judg. 20.28. and so 2 Sam. 2.13. and 18.17. and though it be a sore evill, and (as I haveGrand Sa­crifice. elsewhere more larg­ly proved) especially civill warres, yet sometimes aPa [...]em h [...] bere debet ve­luntas, bell [...] necessitas Aug. necessary e­vill: onely remember wherein thy safety lyes, in Christ alone. Let men be for number, for strength, 2 Chron. 32.7, 8. never so mighty, yet if God be against them, hee can give a Commission to Angels, or Statres above, Judg. 5. to waters, or earth below, to wind and weather, to Frogs. Lice, Flyes, &c. and all the arme of flesh cannot withstand them, Exod. 8.9, 10. witnesse great Pharoah, Herod, Jesa­b [...], P [...]p [...], [...] King of Poland, (whose ordinary oath or curse was,Anno 134 [...]. Rats [...], all his Kingdom could not save him from being devou­ [...]d by [...]aes:)Anno 940. so Hatto Arch-bishop of Mentz by Mice. S [...]isillus [Page]Elkerka with Toads, &c. or God can put a pannick feare into men, Josh. 2.11. or scare them with a conceit, a King. 7.6. ruine them by their own fancie, 2 King. 3. 22, 23, 24. set one of them against another, as 2 Chron. 20.23. Jndg. 7.22.

The Land of Caanan (as Cosmographers think) was not by the fourth part so big as England; they had but twelve Tribes; and we in England and Wales have fifty two Shires: and one with a­nother its thought our shires were as big as their Tribes; yet in two of these Tribes (as they were usually reckoned) there were in Jeboshaphats dayes, almost 1200000. fighting men, 2 Chron. 17.14.—19. enough one would think to over-runne a whole world, and yet Jehoshaphat cryes, 2 Chron. 20.12. We have no strength, neither know we what to doe, onely our eyes are upon thee. But if God goe with them, 2 Chron. 32.8. then 185000. men are lesse then so many Grashoppers, three hnndred men with lamps and pitchers, (God being their Generall) will destroy innumerable enemies, Judges 7.12, 16. And seeing there are two sorts of Souldiers, spirituall and temporall, let me say a word to both.

First, all of us are or should bee spirituall Souldiers; Clergie­men (as some call us) old aged men, women, &c. are usually freed from wars: some are poor, can contribute no money, (the sinews of War) yet all, even Paul himself, yea when aged, yea women, &c. must be spirituall souldiers of Christ, 1 Tim. 6.12. 2 Tim. 2.3, 4. and 4.7. fight under Christ against Devill, flesh and world, with those spirituall weapons, Ephes. 6. Among others, let me intreat you,

• 1. To use Jacobs way, of prayers and tears, Hos. 12.4. Its said of Luther that he prayed five hours a day, Easque studio aptissimos, that the Boards where he used to pray, were rotten with his tears; hee said that hee kept out Pope, Spaine, and the Devill by prayer. Mr. Bolton (that Seraphick Divine) used to pray fixe times every day, twice with himself, twice with his Wife, twice with his Fa­mily. That truly honourable and divinely noble Lord Harring­ton, prayed constantly twice a day in secret, twice with his ser­vants in his Chamber, and joyned at appointed times with the Family in prayer. The wrath of the greatest Kings and rage of the fiercest Lyons could not keep Daniel from prayer thrice a day, [Page 17] Dan. 6. So David, Psal. 55.17. and if David forgot not Jerusalem [...] his mirth, surely much lesse in his prayers. Nehemiah and Daniel (two of the greatest Courtiers to two of the highest Kings then under heaven) when they wanted no outward favour for them­selves, yet how did they mourn and weep for the Churches mise­ries, Nebem. 1.4. Dan. 9.3.
• 2. Use Esthers way, prayer and fasting, Esth. 4.16. some Devils are not cast out but that way: the Israelites miscarried twice and lost 40000 men, till they went this way, Judges 20.
• 3. Use Davids way; enquire of God, and seek out in the Land, and thy heart, what is the main sinne that God is angry fore Sam 21.1. Lam. 3.40. Jer. 8.6.
• 4. Use Ninevehs way; searching, praying, fasting and reforming, Jonah 3.8. Reformation is the first, second, and third part of a Christian: let Joshua do, all else that he can, till Reformation, no peace, no safety, and these wayes of souldiers are, 1. unque­stioned wayes, though some scruples and disputes about other warres, this is unquestionable. 2. universall, old, young, rich, poore,
  J [...]sh. 7, 10-13.
  may all use these wayes 3. safe. 4. cheape.

Secondly; to souldiers temporall; and because you would not have me long, spare me a word or two. 1. I beseech you seeke not your own ends, gains; &c. adde not more length to our miseries, to adde more weight to your owne purses. Let your ends be, the ad­vancement and establishing of the Truth, and purity of Religion, against all Idolatry and Inuovations, the maintenance of the good Lawes of the Land (which are the power that none ought to resist, Rom. 13.1, 2.) His sacred Maiesties honour and true good, the peace and recovery of distressed Ireland, and distracted England; the subjects just Liberties, &c. according to Gods word, our Lawes, and your late Protestation. 2. Rid thy heart of sinne by true repentance, cary to the field a cleer conscience; it was the usuall saying of the old Earle of Essex. (his Excellencies father that now is) When I goe out to the field, if any sinne or guilt lye on my Conscience, it cowards and dampes my spirit; whereas if I find, peace within, I dunst encounter an Army of men; so said old Latimer, Ʋprightnesse hath Boldnesse.

Thirdly, take Christs advice to souldiers Luke 3.14. Doe violence to no man, and be content with your wages; away, for ever away, with [Page 22]this smoaking, pillaging, plundering, for your own private gaine; without either just and publique command and authority, or pub­lique good. It was called stealing the last yeer, and deserved hang­ing and damming, what is it now? It was truly said to, and well taken by, as valiant and pious a souldier as I think this age hath bred, (viz. to GenerallSir Horatio Vere Knight, Lord Vere of Tilbury. Vere) Souldiers that carry their lives in their hands, bad need above others to carry grace in their hearts, that so having made peace with God, they my be fit to encounter with men; and if holy at any time, surely now, when the Armies go out to battel, Deut. 23.9. oh let not an Achans stollen wedge be found in your Campe, Josh. 7. l. st God blast you, Deut. 23.14. if ye doe otherwise, no wonder the child of Reformation stick in the birth, or that things goe backward, by reason of transgression, Dan. 8.12. you say you dis­play your Banners in the name of the Lord of Hosts (and so you must do, if would rightly prosper,) Psal. 20.5. you say you serve under and for Christ your Generall, oh but he is a holy God, Isa 6.3. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts, Rev. 17.14. would Christ your Generall swear, be drunk, whore, ly, &c.? follow your leader. 2. A­gain, you say you stand up for a holy Cause, holy Doctrine, Life and Lawes. Do not you cry, Ocoelum! and point, and looke at the earth.

Thirdly, I beleeve you would prevaile, oh but David (as vali­ant a souldier as ever drew sword,) see which way hee meant to prevaile, by holy crying unto God, Psal. 56.9.

Fourthly, you would be safe; this is the way, Zach. 2.5. and 10.3, 5 Holinesse hath promise of protection. 5. Consider there is somwhat to be done after dying, then comes the strongest try all, and grea­test encounter; you are not able to contend with God, 1 Cor. 10.22. prize your soules above all earthly trash: Caesar swimming through the waters, was content to loose his rich Robe, to save his Booke [...] which he held in his hand; major fuit cura Caesari libellorum quam pur­purae. Your soules will quickly fly out to eternity, I remember the saying of that famous Limmer Zeuxes; diu pingo, quia aeternitati pingo. Let the greatnesse of this Generall CHRIST (who can pardon sins, cleanse the soule, and is flowne away [...] heaven, to provide mansions for his there,) encourage you; Ay [...] but let Holinesse and Piety also rule and direct; but enough of [Page 26]this, I promised brevity.

Use 7. And now while this last sand runs, let me recall that Use which a good while a goe through posting hast I forgot; tis this: a glasse to shew us theuglinesse and poyson ousnesse of sin, which nothing else could cleanse or take away but these cleane Birds, this Cedar, Skarlet, and Hyssop, the precious blood and death of Jesus Christ: play not the fool to make a mock at sinne, Prov. 14.9. rejoyce not thou in that, as sweet, Jer. 11.15. which caused the Saints, as Mary Magdalene, Luke 7.38. David Psal. 34.4. the incestu­ous Corinthian, 2 Cor. 2.7. Peter, Mat. 26.78. &c. to weepe so bitterly; do not thou call bitter sweete: call not any sinne little, that cost so great a price. Moses would not leave a hoofe; Oecebolius not give a halfe-penny to an Idoll Temple. Young King Edward the fixth, said he would rather lose his life, then allow his sister the Lady Mary (afterwards Queene) so much as one Chappell in England for Masse, though Charles the Emperour, and two great persons in this Kingdom, did sore sollicite him: David. would ra­ther chuse punishment then sinne, 2. Sam. 24.10, 17. Joseph would ra­ther lose his cloaths off his backe then sinne, Gen. 39.9, 10, &c. Moses would rather lose Lord Treasurer ship then sinne, Heb. 11.26. Martyrs rather bee plundered, Heb. 10.34. yea endure the fire, then sinne; rejoyce not at the sinnes of others; when any came to Saint Ambrose for comfort, his eyes spoke before his tongue, in mourning for their sinne. Our Sa­viour (whom we never reade to have laughed, wept four times, and all these when others rejoyced and tryumphed: it goes for a say­ing of Anselmes, that he had rather be in Hell without sinne, then Heaven with it.

And it shews us further the cause of all these great distractions fears, troubles on this Kingdome, and of this dayes fasting and humiliation; alas, its sinne that doth thus oppresse us; and we have very great cause this day to wish our heads fountaines of tears, to make this place a Bochim to draw Buckets of teares to quench these burning dissentions, to mourne for all our abomi­nations, the cause; and for the load of calamities, the fruits of our s [...]e for means to help us herein, I have laid down lately on another text; Englands mercies, Englands warnings, Englands [Page 24]rents, Englands dangers, Englands hopes, Irelands miseries, Eng­lands sinnes; these, and suchlike (as I said then) should move and help us to wailing and lamentation, to flouds of tears. Let me as a close to this point, adde a word to the last of those Mo­tives, as most concerning out present point; viz. Englands sinnes; was there ever such hatred of pietie & opposition of goodness, as hath been in thee O England! I never heard of Turks, Jews, Pa­pists, or any other people in the world, but they did prize those best, approve them most that lived most close according to the principles of their own religion, what ever it be; but have not those been made a mocking-stocke, opposed, nick-named, and scorned most, that walk most close according to the Word of God, and principles of our own religion: Did I ever thinke I should have lived to have seen those dayes, wherein it should by many have been made a discerning Shiboleth, or figne of one that is not the Kings friend, viz. if he do not banne and swear; I am sure our great God, I hope our gracious Soveraign thinkes not so. Alas, swearing, cursing, banning wicked subjects are the worst ene­mies that the King hath, 1 Sam. 12.25. 2 Sam. 24.1. An ill Sto­mack may make a good head ake, and good eyes dimme. And alas, alas! do our sinnes decrease for all our afflictions, now God hath us on the knee? or Pharaoh and Ahaz-like, do wee not grow worse [...] worse? do not swearing and banning, stealing, adul­tery, Sabbath-breaking and persecution of Gods Saints encrease still more and more? As a godly Divine somewhere saith, The Turkes call madde men Saints, (because they conceive their thoughts are abstracted from the world) but wee here call Saints madd men: men accuse Daniel, why? no fault save in the mat­ter of his God.

And now (Right Honourable, and beloved) sure I am that your necessities and my time both call for an end; and now all that I dare further presume on (having thus farre trespassed on your patience) is, in a word or two to tell you onely what I should have said, and so commit you to God.

Obser. 3. From the third part, which is the application of those materialls to the Leaper, the point is, That all the Incarnation, [Page 25]death and merits of Jesus Christ will do a poor leprous sinner no [...]od, except, besprinkled on his heart, applyed to him. Hence it it that the sacred Scripture compares Christ and his merits to such things as do us good only when applyed as to meat, drink, bread, [...]ysick, Salve, water, clorhes, &c. what will a hungry, sick, na­ked man, &c. be better for these, except they be applyed. 2. The Scripture (that appoints nothing in vain) affords plentifull means for application; as outward means, Word and Sacraments; in­ward means, on Gods part his Spirit; on our part, faith.

Ʋse 1. Confutes the grand and desperate errour of many that [...]ope and thinke to be justified, glorified, saved by Christ, though never besprinkled with his graces, though never applyed to him, &c.

Ʋse. 2. Of triall, whether we are of Simon Peter or Simon Magus lampe; whether we have any part or portion in this matter of Christs merits, Acts 8. whether thou art cleansed or yet a loath­some Leper.

• First, is thy heart purified, is Christ besprinkled on thee by faith, Act. 15.9.
• Secondly, is the thumb of thy right hand, the toe of thy right foot, and thy right eare dipt in the blood of the Sacrifice, as the Lepers ought, Levit. 14.14. i. e. hast thou a conscionable ca [...] [...] [...]earing, doing, walking.
• Thirdly, doest thou prize the earthen vessell, for the Treasure sake, i. e. Gods Embassadours and Ministers, for the Gospell sake, 2 Cor. 4.7. Isa 52.7.
• Fourthly, doest thou daily wash thy selfe in the tears of true re­pentance, and shave off that superfluity of naughtinesse, as the Le­per ought, Lev. 14.8, 9. J [...]es 1.21, &c.

Use 3. Comfort from this Spring followeth to all Gods Saints, that have Christ besprinkled on them, applyed to them, you are [...]hose (though dust and ashes) that Jesus Christ glorie [...] in, 2 Cor. [...] 23. he rejoyceth that ever be shed his blood for you, Isa 53.11. [...]ffer you may; be ruined you cannot, &c. 2 Cor. 4.8.

From the fourth part, viz. the demeanour or carriage of the par­ [...]y being once cleansed, observe.

Obser. 4. That those whom God doth wash, and cleanse from their sinnes, must still wash and shave themselves, i. e. abstain from all evill and occasions of sinne.

Obser. 5. That scandalous sinners (while they continue Lepers) should be carefully shut out of the Congregation, lest they infe [...] others.

Oh we have many Lepers as in the dayes of Elisha, oh that they were upon good grounds onely, duly shut out; and not but upon good grounds duly readmitted; that there were not too much le­vity, nor too much lenity in this Church-hooke of Excommuni­cation; not too much levity, in laying this heavie censure on men, for pence, toyes, trifles; nor too much lenity in readmitting Dogs, Swine, Lepers, still into the Congregation again, because they have either a silver file, or golden key, to open or breake the Dore. But enough of this, I remember my promise, I close up all with that gallant and souldier-like Speech of that brave Generall Joab, in 2 Sam. 10.12. Be of good courage, let us play the men, for our people, and for the Cities of our God: and the Lord doe that which seemeth him good. *⁎*